Cox Nicolas Sobaszek, Men’s Captain Nathan Goodman, Jonathan Geitner, Tim Primmer, Nigel Brophy, Eddie Gillead, Zak Keene, Jay Sitaraman and Michael Gatzoulis overtake Cygnet RC. Photo: Angela Sorensen
By Mette Rodgers
Thames Tradesmen were well represented with three crews showing the colours in the Hammersmith Head on Sunday 18th February.
The race, hosted by Auriol Kensington Rowing Club, took place despite difficult yellow flag conditions which meant some junior crews had to be excluded. Only the day before, the Molesey Head was canceled due to red flag conditions in the area.
Luckily another night of heavy rain didn’t spoil the fun and TTRC was even represented in the marshaling team by coaches Peter Robinson and Anthony McManus.
As for the race, the mixed TTRC/Guildford RC crew – made up by cox Woody, Dave Bulmer (TTRC), Ben Soren (TTRC), Dan Wood (Guildford), Tom Jack (TTRC), Ben Hopwood (Guildford), Manu Pezier (Guildford), Kim Williams (TTRC) and Paul Arnold (TTRC) – came second in the Masters B/C category after Crabtree BC. They completed the 4,4km course between Chiswick Bridge and Hammersmith Bridge in an impressive 10:42:5.
Representatives from all three TTRC crews before the race
A second Men’s 8+ – made up of cox Nicolas Sobaszek, Men’s Captain Nathan Goodman, Jonathan Geitner, Tim Primmer, Nigel Brophy, Eddie Gillead, Zak Keene, Jay Sitaraman and Michael Gatzoulis – competed in the Masters D/E category. They showed great form to overtake the Cygnet Rowing Club beat them by 27 seconds!
TTRC Women’s 8+ (names below) chasing Putney Town and Kingston RC. Photo 1: Angela Sorensen
The Women’s 8+ – coxed by Michael Tchoubouroff and made up of Francesca Streeter, Women’s Captain Jackie Marie, Barbara Kielim, Izzy Meron, Kasia Wroblewska, Mette Rodgers, Louise Martin and Sue Holland – competed in an extremely tight Masters D/E category race where only 20 seconds separated first and fourth place and 9 seconds separated 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. In a solid race they improved their Quintin race time by 1 minute 31 sec. Sure, the strong fluvial flows might have helped a tiny bit but still very satisfactory!
After the race crew members and supporters enjoyed a celebratory drink in the sunshine at the Bull’s Head while waiting for the results to come in.
Fun in the sun at Bull’s Head
